April 2, 2003
Wednesday - 4:00 pm in Swain West 119
Speaker: Allan Thornton M.D., Medical Director Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute, Indiana University
Title: Therapeutic Radiology; The Emergence of a Particle Specialty

Abstract:
The use of radiation (photon) dates back to the turn of the century with its roots in England, France, and Germany. Early techniques, timing, and fractionations all developed in synchrony during the pre-World War II era, driven by a combination of efficacy and practicality. Although the medical field itself is European and Canadian in historical development, the United States has led the integration of modern computer planning in the past 2 decades.Particle therapy, however, has long been a dream of the medical and physics community. Recently, a vigorous group of programs have risen up in Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the US. The technology of 3-D treatment planning, aided by faster computer planning and Monte Carlo type calculations, have finally made particle therapy practical. This presentation will review the basics of radiobiology, medical physics (my apologies for physics errata), and medical applications of proton radiotherapy, both current and anticipated at MPRI.